Fury as locals in secluded market city face 20-mile spherical journey to their nearest financial institution after Barclays proclaims closure of their native department

Residents in a secluded market city have been left livid after the closure of their native Barclays means they now face a 20-mile spherical journey to the closest department.

Barclays in Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham, shut its doorways for the ultimate time on Friday, which suggests locals now face a hefty automotive journey to take care of a employee face-to-face.

The closure implies that there will likely be no bespoke banking amenities left within the city, and only one money level stays.

Locals will likely be pressured to journey to Barnard Fort in County Durham to seek out their nearest Barclays, which is roughly a 20-minute drive and 30-minute bus journey.

The financial institution claims simply 19 prospects used the department usually, whereas 79 per cent of consumers banked utilizing the Barclays app, on-line or by telephone in 2021.

At McFarlane Household Butchers, Alastair McFarlane warned that cashless funds have been expensive for native companies.

He mentioned: ‘In every single place is turning into increasingly more cashless and all people appears to pay with their card these days. 

‘It should be a very large loss. Most individuals listed below are pensioners who do not know the right way to use the net providers.’

Barclays representatives will now be based mostly out of Higher Teesdale Agricultural Assist Companies (UTASS) twice per week however no money providers will likely be obtainable.

Emma Spry, an admin assist employee on the charity, mentioned the financial institution’s decreased opening hours had change into restrictive to prospects however its employees nonetheless supplied invaluable assist.

She mentioned: ‘You attempt to telephone them now and instantly you are placed on maintain for 40 minutes to talk to someone.

‘It is virtually like they do not need prospects.’

Ms Spry additionally claimed the lack of the city’s Put up Workplace was nonetheless being felt, and she or he mentioned shedding the financial institution is now one other barrier to recover from.

She added: ‘We simply really feel forgotten right here, it is like we do not matter.’

One resident, who didn’t give her identify, mentioned the financial institution can be an enormous miss to the world.

She mentioned: ‘It did not simply serve Middleton in Teesdale, it served proper up the dale. There was three banks right here and now they’re all gone.’

A Barclays spokesperson mentioned: ‘Our prospects’ behaviour has modified considerably lately, with the bulk now selecting on-line banking. 

‘That is mirrored on the Middleton-in-Teesdale department, and as we adapt, we’re discovering new methods to assist our prospects by sustaining our group presence with choices for purchasers who nonetheless require in-person assist.

‘In Middleton-in-Teesdale we plan to open a Barclays Native – a cashless banking website the place prospects can meet a colleague face-to-face for banking assist, as they might in a department and with out the necessity to journey. We’re at present working with the area people to determine an appropriate location and can announce particulars as soon as confirmed.’

To make use of the module, easy enter your postcode, and your required financial institution, and it’ll reveal the branches closed, or set to shut, close to you. Updated as of 05/06/2023 

The financial institution has already introduced greater than 70 closures this yr, following within the footsteps of a number of different main firms together with NatWest, Lloyds Banking Group and Halifax. 

It comes as excessive avenue banks shift additional to banking on-line and thru apps. 

The most recent variety of closures comes after the London-based banking agency introduced it could be shutting at the least 142 branches over the following two years.

Equally, Lloyds introduced it could be closing at the least 84 banks by 2024, whereas NatWest mentioned it had scheduled 14 closures. 

Halifax may also shut 47 branches whereas Santander will shut 5.  Financial institution of Scotland mentioned it would shut 21 branches whereas RBS will shut 4.

The closures have been deemed controversial by some who argue that many, notably the aged, nonetheless depend on in-person providers and that closures will make it harder for these folks to entry monetary providers.  

Folks ought to nonetheless have the ability to perform fundamental banking duties by means of native Put up Workplaces – however this doesn’t embody opening new financial institution accounts, taking out loans or mortgages. 

Most banks may also supply cell banking providers the place a financial institution brings a bus to an area space and gives providers which might be often obtainable at a department. 

Campaigners have beforehand warned that the speedy department closures throughout the UK is placing the aged and weak in danger – being left lower off from entry to their cash.

Earlier this yr, Age UK’s charity director Caroline Abrahams mentioned aged prospects danger being ‘lower adrift’ from banking providers and banks ought to be doing ‘every part they’ll’ to make sure ‘important’ providers proceed to be supplied.

Barclays is the person financial institution that has decreased its community probably the most, with 1,116 branches now closed since January 2015. 

MailOnline has contacted Barclays for remark.